Improved blind-slat operator



i dilated tant wat OSCAR PADDOOK, OF `WAIERTOWN, NEW YORK.

Letters Patent No. 96,950, dated November' 16, 1869.

IMPROVED BLIND-SLAT OPERATOR.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making `part of the samer.'

` 'o whom it may concern.-

and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

The object of my invention, in the main, is to furnish an improved device for effecting the opening and closing of blind-slats, without necessitating the raising of the-window-sash.

The invention consists- First, in the combination of a gear-wheel, fixed to one of the slats of the blind. with a corresponding gear-wheel, fixed to the inner face of the blindframe, and a spring, arranged in rear of the latter gear, and carrying on its free end a catch or stop,

which engages with the gear and projects therefrom, so as to form a thumb-piece, by pressing upon which -the gear may be released, and left free to ro-V tate the blind-slat gear. p

Second, in the combination of the two gears above specified, and a spring catch, located in rear of and so asto engage with the gear, which is fixed to the blind-frame, when the latter gear is provided with a central hole or socket, in which a key may be inserted, so as to both push back the spring and rotate the gear.

The nature of my invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into eiiect, will be readilynnderstood by reference to the drawings, in whichl Figure lis a perspective view of a blindastener and opener, constructed and applied to a blind in accordance with my invention.

Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same.

The bevelled geara is mounted in a plate, a', which is fixed in the inner face of the blind-frame A.

In the rear ot'- this plate is attached a spring, b, which lies in a recess formed for it in the blindframe,and from the lowe`r or fr ee end of which projects a stud or stop, c, extending out through the platea', and located in such manner that it will engage with and lock the gear a, when the spring is in its normal position.

At right angles tothe whecla, is another bev- .elied gear o1` segment, d, whicll is attached to one o f the'connected blind-slats B, and is arranged to engage with the gear a.

In order to admit of the unlocking of the gear a, without the aid of a key, the end ofthe stop c is prolonged, so as to form a thumb-piece, by pressing upon which the gear will be unlocked, and can then be rotated, so as to open or close the slats, as

desired.

The stop and thumb-piece c can only be used, however, when the window is open, and, therefore, in order to admit of operating the slats, without raising the window-sash O, I form in the gear a, a central hole, o1' square or angular socket, which extends through the gear, as shown in iig. 2.

v I then provide a key, f, the extreme end of which is somewhat reduced in size, so as to pass easily through the h'ole in the gear, while the remainder of the portion of the outer end of the shank is made ot' corresponding form with the socket, so as to fit the saine, for the purpose of turning the gear.

lVhen the blinds are to be moved, the key is inserted in the gear, until its outer end presses against the spring b, and thus disengages lthe stop c from the gear.

The key is then turned, care being taken to maintain the end pressure, until the blinds have been opened or closed to the desired extent, and pressure being then removed, or the key being then drawn out of the socket, the catch c will be forced to again engage with the gear, and hold it in position.'

llhe key is of sufficient length to admit of its reaching the gear, after passing through a hole formed for it in the window-sash O, as seen in iig. 2, so that the blind can readily be actuated, without opening the window.

As the key is removed from the window, when not in use, the sashcs can be raised or lowered without any inconvenience; and one key will sut'- ice to operate any number ot' sets of gears, applied :to one or more windows, so that the upper blinds of a window, if they be disconnected from the lower blinds, can beactuated without trouble.

When the socket and key are cmploycd, the catch need not be constructed to serve as a thumb-piece, but I prefer the latter construction, as the blinds, when the window is opened, can thereby readily he operated without the usc of the key.

Having now described my invention, and the manner in which the same is or maybe carried into eiiect.

That I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination ot' the two gears, fixed to the blind-slats and blind-frame, respectively, with the gear-stop and thumb-piece and spring, to which the same is attached, said parts being constructed and arranged to operate as shown and set i'orth.

2.- A blind-Slat opener and fastener, composed of the two gears, iixcd to the blind-frame and slats, respectively, and the spring stop, for locking the gears, when the blind-trame gear is provided with a central opening or socket, for the passage of the key, and the spring stop is arranged in rear of said opening, so as to be operated by the key, substantally as shown and described.

In testimonywhercof, I have ,signed my name to this specification, before two subscribing witnesses.

OSCAR PADDOOK.

Witnesses:

ALLEN Nurs, LUKE MCGLEW. 

